Top free things to do in Oxford

Must-see free things to do in Oxford

Oxford is a popular historic city to visit with its prestigiously world-renowned university, and historic charm of its colleges. You can choose from the likes of a walking tour, evensong or adjacent meadows to take in the college and university environment while saving the pennies. There’s also a couple of free museums that are impressingly varied and a covered market to mooch through come rain or shine; while you may need to get your timings right or make an advanced booking in some cases, there’s plenty of free options available for things to do and see during your holidays to Oxford.

Worcester College
Ashmolean Museum
Evensong at Oxford colleges
Port Meadow
Christ Church Meadow
Footprint walking tour
Museum of Natural History
Covered market

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1. Worcester College

Worcester College is part of the University of Oxford and was founded in 1714. It’s set in a domineering, Palladian style building with two rows of smaller cottages flanking the pretty green quad. It’s common to pay an entry fee to visit most Oxford University colleges, but remarkably this one is free. While it is a little walk from the main city centre, this is what makes it so appealing.

Best for: Walking around Oxford college grounds.

While you’re there: close by is a large grassy park where you might catch a university rugby or football match taking place.

2. Ashmolean Museum

The stunning, sprawling Ashmolean Museum dates all the way back to 1683 and today houses a world-renowned collection of artefacts that all tell the story of human culture. Take in ancient antiquities, browse eastern and western art and be impressed by the 900 plaster casts of replicated ancient Greek and Roman statues – as you enter this gallery and see them all together, it’s hard to believe that they’re not the real things!

Best for: Art from around the world and across the ages.

While you’re there: The Heberden Coin Room features Islamic, Celtic, South Asian, Greek, Roman and modern coinage.

3. Evensong at Oxford colleges

Whether you’re staying for a day or slightly longer, you can really make the most of your time in Oxford by attending an Oxford College evensong. This is a religious service consisting of prayers and hymns, so make sure you are respectful of worshippers who attend this daily service. Evensong is performed at different college chapels, so this is a great way to see a part of a college for free – most of which usually charge a fee to tour the grounds – and experience spine-tingling hymns in an atmospheric setting. Whichever cheap holidays to Oxford you’re considering, the evensong is a unique experience to be had.

Best for: Oxford University traditions that date back centuries.

While you’re there: Christ Church is one of the most beautiful chapels to experience evensong.

4. Port Meadow

Take the 30min walk from the city centre and you’ll find yourself in Port Meadow, a green spot set in the countryside where you’ll spot more cows than colleges and treetops than church spires. But Port Meadow is steeped in as much history as Oxford city centre: the site dates back to the Bronze Age. Embrace the various wildflowers in the meadows, go birdwatching or pack up a picnic and make a day out of it.

Best for: Countryside escapes.

While you’re there: Keep an eye out for wild horses!

5. Christ Church Meadow

Continue your greenscape a little closer to the city centre at Christ Church Meadow. While you have to pay to see Christ Church, the huge meadow outside is free! There’s more wildlife galore with the likes of cows and geese, and don’t be surprised if you see a rowing team gliding their way through the river that lines the meadow – quite a few boat clubs are based here.

Best for: Long walks with riverside views.

While you’re there: Cross over the 19th century Folly Bridge: the site where oxen could cross the river safely, and how Oxford got its name.

6. Footprint walking tour

If you’re travelling on a budget, then you can’t beat a good old walking tour. Footprints tours organise a range of themed tours, so whether you want to focus on the university or get a general overview of the city itself, there’s a tour for you. Lasting roughly two hours, you’ll find out all the stories behind the top landmarks, from college rivalries to literary legends.

Best for: An all-rounder view of Oxford.

While you're there: Treat yourself to a Harry Potter walking tour.

7. Museum of Natural History

One of the best free things to do in Oxford has to be a visit to the Museum of Natural History. Even the neo-Gothic building it's housed in is a sight in itself; but carve out a solid day to take in the collections here, which don’t fail to impress. There is the ‘Red Lady’ of Paviland, a decorated skeleton who was in fact more recently discovered to be a young man dating back 34,000 years, not an ancient Roman woman.

Best for: Rainy days.

While you’re there: Check out the various collections in the Zoology department, from arachnids to molluscs.

8. Covered market

Oxford’s Covered Market Covered Market celebrates the best of independent businesses and well-known brands. Restaurants, boutiques, fresh fruit and veg stalls, pie shops, tea shops… while strolling up and down the lanes make for great window shopping, you’ll find it hard not to be tempted by what’s on offer.

Best for: Market mooching and window shopping.

While you’re there: Just around the corner is the 12th-century Carfax Tower, now wedged on the corner of a bustling shopping street but steeped in historical intrigue.

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